Open Letter from Joel Climenhaga

You,--
The meaning is in the wonder.
...
Through acceptance of the mystery, peace.
And only through peace can come acceptance of the mystery.
We are not open. The glory cannot come in. How soon after our best things
is the taste bitter again.
As of this earth and what I am on this earth -- I fiercely wish to protect the
things I love.
They fill my eyes with tears -- the things I love.
Suppose they are nothing -- They are all I have.

My main reason is to remind you that 1997 marks the 25th anniversary of the
year of Kenneth Patchen's death... He died in this same month in 1972.

Which brings me to the second -- and I think equally important -- reason...
I invite you to a special commemoration of the life and work of Patchen
during the 1997 Summer Writing Program of The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied
Poetics at The Naropa Institute, Boulder, Colorado. This celebration of
Patchen's life and work will be from July 10th through July 13th.

Patchen unquestionably was one of the greatest poets of the 20th Century.
And yet, he is also one of the most widely neglected by academic circles.
Even though this is true, the "underground" does not neglect him...! That has
been proven over and over again -- both during his life and since his death.
I don't think we should neglect him, either... I know all of you (or about you),
one way or another; you all know me (or about me), for one reason or another.
And I invite all of you to come to Boulder this coming July to share with me
our memories of Patchen...!

Some of you already have received a letter of invitation from Max Regan,
Director of the Summer Writing Program of the Naropa Institute. If you have
any questions, you should contact Max.

For those others of you who are reading about this commemoration for the
first time, I tell you that there will be a number of events of interest. One
will be a panel discussion of Patchen's life/work. On that panel will be
Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman, Anselm Hollo, and me -- as well as others to
be designated later. Also, I've been asked to give a speech about Patchen
(Naropa referred to it as a lecture; I assure you it will be a "non-lecture").
I'm titling this "non-lecture" Kenneth Patchen : The Peaceful Lier.
There is the possibility of an exhibit of some of Patchen's original paintings,
if that can be properly arranged. During the evenings will be poetry readings.
[For all the day-time activities -- which includes both the panel discussion
and the "non-lecture" -- the admission is free. However, you will need to
get a pass for those activities from Max Regan. I'm told there will be a
nominal charge for the poetry readings in the evening.]

This, of course, is only a partial description of all that will happen. I'm
sure other events will be developed.

If you have any questions you want to ask me, please do so... If you want
additional information concerning the various events (as well as any specifics
concerning accomodations in Boulder, stuff like that), your questions should
be sent to Max Regan. [Her address is : Max Regan, Summer Program
Administrative Director, The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics,
The Naropa Institute, 2130 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, Colorado, 80302-6697, USA.]